Car-coupling



2 sheets-sheet 1'.

(No Model.)

J. Z; PALM.

GAR GOUPLING.

No. 375,891. Patented Jan. 3, 1888l buxus es N. PETERS, Phulwlllhngrupher. Washington. lA C.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet` 2 J. Z. PALM.

GAR GOUPLING. No. 375,891. Patented Jan. 3, 1888.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN Z. PALM, OF BOWMANSVILLE, ASSIGNOR TO THOMAS SOHVEITZER, OF

SPRING GROVE,

PENNSYLVANIA.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 375,891, dated January 3, 1888.

Application tiled Ortober 31, 1887. Serial No. 253,001. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN Z. PALM, of Bowmansville, in the county of Lancaster and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Car-Oonplers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to car-couplings, and is designed as an improvement upon the device for which Thomas Schweitzer1 obtained Letters Patent of the United States No. 364, 67 9, dated June 14, 1887.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved coupling, with the floor of the car broken away; Fig. 2, a bottom plan View; Figs. 3 and 4, similar views of a portion of the coupler, showing the parts in different positions; Fig. 5, a side view, and Figs. 6 and 7 detail views.

Referring again to the drawings, A indicates the draw-bar, which is forked or slotted at its rear end, as shown in Figs. 1 and 5, forming arms a a, which are connected by an end plate, d. The end plate, d, is perforated centrally to receive a rod or stem, c, which projects inwardly between the arms a c of the draw-bar A, and is furnished at its inner end with a plate or slide, f, which is notched in its top and bottom to slide upon the arms a a, a spring, g, encircling the rod or stem c between the platesf and d. The rod or stem c projects out beyond the end of the draw-bar, and is perforated to receive a vertical bolt or stem, e, which is secured to a bracket or hanger, b, fastened securely to the under side of the car, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 5.

Projecting horizontally through the slotted end of the draw-bar, and extending on each side thereof, is a rod or bar, h, carried atits ends in brackets t, bolted or otherwise secured to the under side of the car, the said rod or bar h being encircled by coiled springs j j, which bear at opposite ends upon the drawbar and the brackets i, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Pivoted to the forward end of the draw-bar A by means of a vertical pin or bolt, k, is the coupling-hook B, which latter is provided on its rear face with a perforated lug, Z, adapted to be connected by means of a pin or bolt, m, with a plate, C, as clearly shown in Figs. 2, 3, 4, and 5. The plate C is adapted to lie close against t-he rear face of the draw-bar A at its forward end, andis held in place by a bolt or latch, D.

As shown in Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, the bolt or latch D slides through a lug, E, formed upon or secured to the draw-bar, and has its nose beveled, in order that the correspondinglybeveled end ot' the plate O may ride freely thereover. with a rearwardly-extending stem, n, which works through a lug, 0, projecting from the draw-bar A, and the said stem is encircled by a coiled spring, p, which bears at opposite ends against the lug o, and a shoulder upon the bolt or latch, as clearly shown in Fig. 6.

The spring p tends to keep the nose of the latch in engagement with the plate C and thereby hold the pivoted hook B against movement.

Journaled vertically in the draw-bar A is a shaft, F, provided at its upper end with a hand-wheel, G, and at its lower end, beneath the draw-bar A orin contact with the lower face thereof, with a plate, H. 7 5

As shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 4, the plate H is provided with three arms, I, J, and K, the formerbeing provided with a slot, L, concentric with the shaft F, and adapted to receive a pin or stud, M, projecting downwardly 8o from the Linder face ofplate O. Arm K is connected to an arm or link, N, which latter is slotted at its opposite end to'receive a pin or stud, O, projecting downwardly from the latch or bolt D, as shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 4. The arm J is connected by means of a link, P, with a radial arm, Q, secured to a shaft, B, which is journaled in the draw-bar A,and projects outwardly beyond the side of the car, where it is provided with a handewheel, S, as 9o shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.

Now, when it is desired to throw the hook B to one side, so as to couple it with the corresponding hook of another car,it is only necessary to turn or rotate either of the shafts F or It in its bearings, the rotation of either of these shafts causing the plate A to swing horizontally, and through suitable mechanism retract the latch and move the plate C,which is connected with the hook B, away from the not draw-bar. As the shaft R (or the shaft F) is rotated in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 3,

The bolt or latch D is provided 6o it will cause the plate H to swing from the shaft F as a center a distance equal to the length of the slot L, and in moving through this limited distance the arm N will have retracted the bolt or latch D sufficiently to disengage or release the plate C, so that after the latch is thus retracted any further rotation of the shaft B will cause the plate C to swing away from the draw-bar A, and thereby swing the hook B upon its pivot k,as clearly indicated in Fig. 4. Botatingthe shaft B or the shaft F in the reverse direction will carry the plate C nearly in contact with the draw-bar A,and when the plate C has reached this position it will be found thata lug, q, upon the inner end of the hook B, will have come into contact with the face of the draw-bar, and prevent any further swinging motion ofthe hook laterally in that direction. vThis rotation of the shaft R has also in the meantime drawn the latch or bolt D inward,so that its beveled nose rests behind theinner end of the plate C, as shown in Fig. 7. It will be seen that with the parts in this position there would be nothing to prevent the hook from swinging laterally and assuming the position shown in Fig. 4t,and hence itwill be found necessary to provide an arrangement by which the plate() may move close up to the draw-,bar and be locked in position without any further movement of the hook B. This is provided for by slotting the end of the arm N where it passes about the pin or stud O on the latch or bolt.

If the shaft R be turned so as to throw the arm J of the plate H forward, the said plate, acting through the pin M, will force the plate C to swing upon its pivot m, close up to the draw-bar A. The inner end of the plate G being beveled rides freely over the beveled nose ofthe latch D and moves said latch or bolt backward against the pressure of its spring, the slot in the end of arm N permitting this motion of the latch after the hook is brought into position.

It will be seen that by means of either ofthe shafts F or B the bolt may be retracted and the hook swung laterally, and, also, that the hook may be brought back to its normal position and locked in position.

By means of the slotted draw-bar A and the rod h and springsj the draw-bar,with all its attendant parts, may have a limited lateral movement upon the bolt or stem e. It will also be seen that by means of the rods e and the spring g a limited longitudinal movement of the draw-bar is permitted without in any way interfering with the operation of the hook and its operating devices, and without interfering with any lateral movement of the drawbar.

It is obvious that t-he wheels G and S may be omitted and the shafts F and R provided each with a winch or handle.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim ism l 1. In a car-coupler, the combinatiomwith a car, of abracket, b, secured thereto, adraw-bar, A, slotted at its inner end and provided with a plate, d, a rod or stem, c, projecting through the end plate,'d, inward between the arms of the draw-bar,-a plate, f, secured to the outer end of the rod c,la spring, g, encircling the rod or stem, and a pin or bolt, e, connecting the rod or stem with the plate or bracket b.

2. In combination with a car and a bracket, b, secured thereto, a draw-bar, A, slotted at its inner end and pivotally connected with the bracket, a rod or stem projecting through the slotted end of the draw-bar and carried at its ends in brackets i, and springs j, encircling the stem h and bearing at opposite ends upon the draw-bar or brackets i. k

3. In a car-coupler, the combinatiomwith a draw-bar, of a laterally-swinging hook pivotally attached thereto, a latch for locking the said hook against lateral movement, a shaft projecting outwardly beyond the side of theY car, and mechanism, substantially as shown, Vconnected with the shaft and serving to operate the latch and the hook.

4. In a car-coupler, the combination, with a draw-bar, of a laterally-swinging hook pivotally attached thereto, a latch for locking the said hook against lateral movement, a vertical shaft projecting upward above the door of the car, and mechanism, substantially such as shown, connected with the shaft and serving to operate the latch and the hook.

5. In a car-coupler, the combination, with a draw-bar, of a laterally-swinging hook pivoted thereto, a locking device for retaining said hook inposition, a vertical shaft journaled in the draw-bar, a second shaft also journaled in the draw-bar and projecting laterally therefrom, and mechanism for operating the hook and the latch and connected with both of the shafts, substantially as shown.

6. In combination with a draw-bar and a hook pivoted thereto, aplate, C, or equivalent device connected with the hook, a latch, D, adapted to engage theplate C, aplate, H, journaled in the draw-bar and connected with the plate() and with the latch D, and means for operating' the plate H, all substantially as shown.

7. In combination with draw-bar A, pivoted hook B, plate C, and latch D, allarranged substantially as shown, a plate, H, provided with arms I and K, connected, respectively, wit-hL the plate C and latch D, and means for swinging` said plate H upon its pivot.

8. In combination with draw-bar A, hook B, plate C, and latch D, arranged substantially as shown, plate H, mounted upon the draw-bar and provided with a curved slot, L, adapted to receive a pin, M, upon the plate C, and a bar, N,connecting the plateH with thelatch D.

9.' In combination with draw-bar A, hook B, plate C, and latch D, a plate, H, mounted upon the draw-bar and provided with a slotted arm, I, a pin, M, secured to plate C and working in the slotted arm, and a bar, N, pivotally con- IOC nected at one end to the plate H and connected at its opposite end by means of a sliding joint with the latch D.

10. In combination With draWJoar A, hook B, plate C, and latch D, arranged substantially as shown, a plate, H, mounted upon the drawbar A and provided with arms l, J, and K, a pin, M, secured to plate C and working in a slot in arm I, a rod or bar, N, connecting arm K With latch D, a shaft, F, secured to and forming the pivot of plate H, a shaft, B, arranged at right angles to shaft F and provided with a radial arm, Q, anda link, P, connecting the arms J and Q, all substantially as shown.

l1. In combinationwith draw-bar A, hook B, plate C, and latch D, a shoulder, q, upon that face of hook B opposite to plate G, aslotted plate, H, pivoted to the draw-bar, a pin, M, projecting from plate C into a slot in the plate H, a rod, N, pivotally connected to the 2o plate H and slotted where it is connected to latch D, and means for swinging the plate H upon its pivot.

In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN Z. PALM.

Witnesses:

H. B. BECKER, T. B. MUssELMAN. 

